Means for selecting radio programs



June 15, 1937. v R. c. LANE MEANS FOR SELECTING RADIO PROGRAMS Filed Dec. 30. 1931 5 heets-Sheet 1 $24 STATIONS 5 S SABCDEFGH x Qmwhto o' 6 Hu55fLL C LHNE W/M M June 15, 1937. R. C. LANE 2,084,295

mans FOR smmac'rim mum PROGRAMS Filed Dec. 30. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lprf .Fgg. Eusssu. CLHNE June 15, 1937.

Filed Dec. 30, 1931 R. (3. LANE MEANS FOR SELECTING KAI-110 PROGRAMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 z]. RX /H I 49 I55 [6' 7 A52 20 o awuwtoz RUSSELL CLHNE June 15, 1937. R. c. LANE MEANS FOR SELECTING RADIO PROGRAMS Filed Dec. 30, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwvwntoz C LHNE RUSSELL.

MM MMM June 15,1937. R LANE 2,084,205

MEANS FOR SELECTING RADIO PROGRAMS- Filed Dec. 30; 193; 5 Sheets-Sheet.5

w w 4) @M'J f RUE SELL [I LHNE MIW+M Fatented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,084,205 MEANS roa snmc'rmc aAmo rnoonms Russell 0. Lane, Dayton, assignments. to Radio New York, N. Y.,

Ohio, assignor, by mesne Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application December 30 1931. Serial N... season 6 Claims. (crass-2'0) This invention relates to mechanism preselecting a radio program 'for an extended interval of time and thence controlling a radio instrument strictly in accordance with the program grams will probably vary in character and order of dissemination so as to 1 include lectures, dramas, news items, operas. stallments of some continued program at irregular intervals for a stated period. Certain ones 01! these numbers on each program, the radio 20 listener will desire to listen to, others. he will not care about, still others he will not be abl'ejto tolerate. It therefore becomes desirable that the listener may be able to determine beforehand the particular features of 5 gram and thence provide for the control or his radio set during the evening in strict accordance with the program he has selected or determined to listen to. 4 s

The. present invention provides means when?- by the radio listener may prepare, or have prepared, a control web that will bear indicia characteristic or each stations particularprogram number that the desires to enjoy, and thence start the 3 ation and forget about it until he desires to use his radio set at some subsequent time..

apparatus here disclosed the listenermay spend a few minutes at a single instance in selecting the desired program tor a stated period before 40 the selected program is to commence,

, and then leave the rest to the selector mechanism, as compared with the usual practice of attending the receiver'irequently during the evenings entertainment to make the various desired timings.

The features of the station program selected may be miscellaneous in character, representing the choice bits of all that the evening's program may aflord. for the i generally clas 50 heads. That is to say, the listener may desire to have his evening's program made up entirely of dance music. He may have a particular weakness for jazz. On the otheig hand, he may care to tolerate nothing but the operas and classical whatever the desires of the evening's be gathered from the multitude of broadcast stations he will enjoy or even care to hear. Each of these station pro-,

jazz or single -in-- the evenings radio pro-g program may amount to, the radio listener has onlyto look over the printed programs as what the various stations will broadcast; decide upon the numbers he p and thence prepare the record web in accordance with the arbitraryprogram he v d.

As a further aid, and to save the valuable time of a busy man, a,structure or the type herein disclosed lends itself to the method or program selection wherein an editing agency will study and analyze all of the radio station broadcast programs certain locality, and then classify the features of the various station programs analyzed into characteristic groups and arranging the several station features under each characteristic group according to their order of time. The editing agency will then prepare the control elements or webs so as to indicia 0! each station broadcast and its time oi contribution to the program of the selected character. The prepared control elements are then readyfor distribution to subscribers, or as may otherwise have been provided for, andthe radio listener or subscriber'upon receipt of the control element places it in his instrument and gives the same an initial start, after which he need pay no more attention to the adjustment radio instrument for his evenlngs entertainment. Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a record controlled means for setting and resetting a radio instrument accordbear proper mg to the predetermined desires oi an attendant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that will control a radio instrument from a prepared program stri n p. A further object oi the invention is to provide ,a control for a'radio instrument according to a miscellaneous program in which the contributing broadcasting; stations.

A further object oi the invention is to provide for the control of a radio pr over an extended period requiring the least attention oi a personal attendant.

A-iurther object of the invention is to provide a radio instrument controlling means that will respond to all of the variations of record preparation. I A further object of the invention is to provide a radio instrument controlling means whose fldelity of operation will not be materially interferred with by variations of dimensions in record sheet manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for disengaging the driving relation of the features may be selected from a plurality of 40 7 means, and is substantially that cooperation oi. the contributing parts trol mechanism non-operative.

ment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preselector mechanism constructed in accordance open position so certain elements of structure.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of paratus substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 22 of Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View .that substantially indicated rows 3'3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is of the device. being by the line and arby the line and arrow 'l'1 Fig. 8 is a a plurality of edited procopending application Serial No. 550,179 filed July 11,1931. Referring particularly to the drawings,

by a back member-23 and all mounted upon a base preferably being hinged for the said side it's hinge 25. In of skeleton or rail construction so as to provide 24, the side member 22 2,084,205 control sheet, or otherwise rendering the consufiicient for manipulation may demand. there an opening therein of parts as occasion Upon the base 24 01' the frame structure as the pedestal 40 provides a bearing ll to journal a shaft 42 of a rotatable drum 43, and may also include a bracket 44 afllxed to the frame as at with provisions for engaging about a clock or motor 45, and providing a bearing perform the usual functions of a time An incremently adjustable connection between the hub 52 of the driving drum is provided with a key way 53 to receive a pin or key 54 carried by the shaft 42, and the mating end of the shaft 2 is provided with a head 55 having a conical recess 56 for engagement with the knurled head Behind the head 55 casing member 23. v

To remove the supply spool the shaft 65 is withdrawn from the case and spool, whereupon the spool may be removed through the bottom of the observed is coiled about the flange and has-its opposite or paper strip carried so that the shaft 88 may be readily inserted to The non-rounded provisions 88 of the shaft that mate up with the spool 88 make to rotate the sa e in either direction by the knob 18 from without the case. In order to take up the slack in the feed of the record a secured to the arms or other tensioning means engaging the end mem- The spring :tension ofthe ber of the spool 85. member 11 is just sufficient to hold the spool in the angular position to which it has been rotated but will not materially interfere or resist the drivingof the web D when the device is in operation. As before stated, the take-up spool 88 is journalled in bearings 38 and 81 provided by the frame member. This spool is somewhat different in construction from that of the supply spool, it comprising a pair of flanged head members 1 fixed to a stub shaft 14 that are held in spaced relation by a cylindrical portion 15 to support the exhausted end of the web D. Provision is made for attaching the web D to the pick-up spool by cutting apertures or slits 16 through the flanges of the head member 13 and just outside of the cylinwhich slits there is disso as to lay against the surface of the cylinder 15. Attachment is made by withdrawing the bar 11 from without one of the slots, placing the end of the web between the bar and the cylinder and thence reinserting the end of the bar in the slot 16.

Means are provided for winding up the exhausted portion of the web by a novel spring urged connection between the spool and a control shaft 18 that includes the detail of construction illustrated in Fig. '1. In that instance the control shaft 18 is fitted within the bearing 31 and carries an axial bore 18 to form a journal for the exshaft 14. A terminating flange 88 of the shaft 18 provides a thrust hearing between the frame member 82 and the-adjacent head 13 of the spool and likewise provides means for anchoring the end of a spiral spring that end secured to a lug 82 carried by the head member 18. The relation of the bearing engagements between the shaft 18 in the bearing 31 and between the shaft 14 and the sleeve portion 18' are such that the spring tension that may be stored up in the spring 81 will, operate to drive the spool 38 relative to the shaft 18 but will not allow rotation of the shaft 18 relative to the bearing 81 by any amount'of spring energy that may be stored up in the element 81. The shaft '18 is extended to project through the back member 28 of the case where it is fltted with a control knob 88 by which the shaft 18 may be rotated for storing up tension in the spring 81 for a. purpose that willpresently appear.

By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings. it will be that the structure thus fardescribed provides for the continuous movement of a web by the supply spool 85 trained over the drum 48 and whose exhausted end is attached to the take-up spool, the drum 48 being driven at a substantially constant rate of speed by the motor or clockwork 48. To facilitate in this the drum 48 may have its cylindrical surface 88 roughened sufficiently to increase the frictional engagement between the web and the said drum so as to prevent-substantial slipping thereof as the drum is rotated and the web is drawn from a supply spool 88. The drum also treme end of the electrical connection ,straighten out or so that the carries marginal flanges 86 that operate as guides for the web so that the same will properly track with respect to the station selector mechanism E, soon to be described. In the present embodiment the shell 85 of the drum constitutes a common for the individual elements of the station selector mechanism and operates when engaged by the said elements to complete circuits therethrough.

elements of due to specific selected preparations of the web may allow engagement of desired ones of the elements of the station selector mechanism and contact therewith so as to complete the desired circuits In the present embodiment as illustrated the web D is prepared by the punch mechanism F as will presently appear.

As before stated the. station selector mechanism E is mounted upon the movable panel 22 that has a latchable engagement with the main portion of the case, and the said mechanism constitutes a plurality of spring leaf conductors 90 individually and insulatingly mounted upon a block of insulation 81 by means of the screws or similar devices 92 and 98. The contact elements 80, as they may be defined, may be somewhat bowed in form so as to engage the web D and the shell 88 of the drum under certain conditions when the panel 22 is latched into place, and-each of the elements carries a contact roller 84 adapted to roll over the web D or the drum 85, as the case may be. The elements 88 are of such character that they will web or cylinder when the panel "is moved into place before the same is depressed into its latched position, and the subsequent movement of the panel to latch the same tends to flex the elements 80 somewhat web will be engaged firmly by the rollers 94 and will thereby flrmly engage the surface of the drum at that point, which facilitates driving of the web by the drum 43.

To each of the contact elements 88 is attached a lead and they are gathered in a multiconductor cable and thence attached to the instrument adjusting mechanism within the radio receiver or otherwise disposed thereabout. To this multi-conductor cable is also added a lead forming the common connection with the drum 48, as well for the latch 26. I It is desired that the station selector mechanism E provide a confor each station to which the instrument is to be tuned. and two or more additional contact elements for the control of other functions. In the illustrated embodiment one of these additional elements is fora stop and start mechanism, while the second is designed to operate a release mechanism carried by' the selector unit itself. If it be so desired other elements may be added to the selector mechanism speclflc to the various functions desired. The particular adaptation of these additional elements will follow in a later paragraph.

After the web D is trained over the drum 4! and passes the selector mechanism E it passes over a table portion or platen 188 as leads that are speciflc to a release that constitutes a record preparingstation and coopcrates with the record preparing means F to prepare the web D so that it will control the radio instrument tendant.

according to the desires of the at- The record preparing means embodies a die member 18! extending across the table I88 and that carries a series of" apertures I82 drawer or receptacle H6 the punch 94 01' the'contact ele- Spaced slightly above the die member IOI there is a detent supporting a channel member I04 carriage I05, member I01.

to any one of the positions in which the rib IIO recess I09 the punch I01 depressed against the. spring I06, the out a portion of I 02 are in alignment with the contact her 3- provides a chamber H5 that receives a the particles D as they are punched oi the web out.

To facilitate in punching the web Din accordwith any desired sequence 01' stations to be contact element that the contact elements where it is desired to energize and deenergize the set by separate mechanisms. to I inclusive have reference to particular station the drum C interrupted. The station scale thus aflixed is to aid in pre paring the web D according th the functions that it is to control. A second scale I25 is secured or the driving oi the web otherwise carried by the Since the the aperture that is thus prepared that operates to receive may be duplicated V to any convenient portion of thestructure and is graduated in time substantially as indicated in Fig. 1.

upwardly and may follow the contour of the flange 86 of the drum which portion thereof is graduated in time as is the lower portion.

or the like, decides that he wishes to make up his evening's will broadcast a desirable As indicated hereinabove, and to prepare the web'D to control the setting of the radio instrualong the scale I25 equivalent to a half hour intime between the ture to be broadcast by the station G and that to be broadcast by that station E. 'With the web preparation,

terval of time, or in this instance the interval of beginning of the desired feain that position-the punch is moved .to a position opposite the marking E on the scale I20 and is operated to punch the web at the point I32. According to the desired schedule of tuning it is proposed to return to the station G at 5 hour from the time that the station broadcasts that have been determined.

This record preparation may amount to a continuous program for the afternoon and evening,

or it may include silent periods, an instance of which is indicated by the aration in accordance with the foregoing example tuning is fully illustrated in Fig. 1 the apertures I30 to-.I40

inclusive have been plotted upon the illustrated web D in strict accordance sequence. While the crossed lines X and Y, they are applied to the web, but are here used only for the purposes of aiding in plotting the various station preparations. At the conclusion of the web the prepared web is trained back over the drum 0 and adjusted such thatthe first or start preparation I30 is opposite to a mark on the upper portion ofthe scale I25, equivalent to the interval of'time between that at which the preselector is'to be started and the time at which the first station is to be called up. To illustrate this, assume that the web is prepared and that fifteen minutes will elapse before the stabe tuned in. The web is so adjusted scale I25 that the start aperture I30 will be opposite the fifteen minute mark above the point P.

'This having been the movable panel 22 it is held by the latch 20. The station selector mechanism E will then be in engagement with the prepared web D and will provide sufllcient frictionalengagement be-' tween the web D and the drum and rollers of the done contact elements to cause the web D to be driven by the said drum when it is rotated. The con trol knob 04 is then operated to-wind up the t has not alreadybeen done, and thiswill operate to take up the slack or exhaustspring 1 pick-up station web D along with it causing strur'nent to cause I43, which are designated as 'panel 22.

' reason of that strument or-inlury to the web. Provisions, there- ,Iorahave been web after a reasonable length of time,

ed portion of the web D as it is driven past the by the drum C. As the drum is clock or motor 46 it carries the it to move beneath the station selector mechanism E, and whenever one of the apertures in the web D passes between therollers 94 and the drum the'rollers with the surface of the drum an electrical circuit which by the aid of the leads 95 will energize the tuning driven bythe mechanism within the inthe tuning and retuning of the receiver. Fig. 9 specifically illustrates the cooperation of the drumC and the web D with an element of the station selector mechanism E in completing such a circuit:

As an alternative for the record preparation be accomplished an editing agency wheremthe controlling tion of station broadcast over a time, that is to say, a week or more in advance. After such preparation the program editors may distribute or sell the prepared webs to subscribers and others. In other words, the editing agency after studying and analyzing the features of the programs for the various broadcasting stations for the'period, may group the same-according to the character of the particular feature and arrange them in their time order of occurrence, preparing. separate webs for character. As an example of this, oneweb might be prepared to tune and retune the instrument so that the evening's program would be made up of dance music, while another would be limited to classical music and still another to educational features etc. Fig. 11 is program webs prepared by an editing agency where a prepared webfor a program of lectures is designated at I as a Lecture-gram, and for a program of dance music and opera at I42 and Opera-gram" respectively.

the drum just the web as to the time scale and close up the If the web scriber wishes to do so. he hausted end to the take-up spool described; However, that is not necessary.

In either instance, whether the web be prepared by the radio listener or by an editing agency, when it is trained over the drum 43 and the instrument case is closed there need be given no further attention to it, since the web will be driven by the motor 40 and through the agency of the station selector mechanism E will tune and retune the radio receiver strictly in accordance with the record preparations.

In some instances, a considerable interval of time may elapse between the conclusion of one evenings program that the radio listener has provided for and a subsequent occasion when he desires to control the instrument by the preselector. Under such circumstances a considerable amount of the web D might be unnecessarily wound 'upon the take-up spool 38, and by might result in damage to the ininterrupt driving of the which includes aspring leaf member I40 disposed relativeadded to features of alike of these program may attach the ex- 38 as has been Dance-gram and 1y near the spool 38 and insulatingly supported from a portion of the frame member 13 by a 'I'he carried by the spring 26 has a conductor I54 joining the multi-conductor cable, before referred to, and has its winding connected to the a lead I47. By reference to the diagram of Fig. 10, it may be seen that e successive layers of web wound upon the cylinder 15 will be I45 and flex and operates 22 which now the to release the panel wardly by reason of Provisionisalso made for accomplishing a.v similar result in those instances where the web D-is prepared by an editing agency, though the ments' 8 and release magnet and I49.

for radio receivers,

d apertures results in energization of its corresponding selector circuit.

selector arrangement, adapted comprising a program conplaten extending laterally across said web,'a clock operated drum for moving said web with respect to the platen, said platen being providedwith a plurality oi bores,'each bore correnussm 0. LANE. 

